Lectures

What Can Mountain Lions Teach Us?
Join wildlife biologist Mike Puzzo for a conversation about his experiences studying mountain lions in Southern California. As human development and populations increase throughout the region, mountain lions and other wildlife encounter more and more challenges. Find out what Mike hopes to learn from his ongoing cougar research, and what it can teach us about our relationship with California’s wildlife. Mike Puzzo is a wildlife biologist for the Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis. He has been studying, tracking, and trapping mountain lions for over 3 years. Two dates!

November 5, 7 pm
Adventure 16 - West Los Angeles store
Fee: FREE

November 6, 7 pm
Adventure 16 - Costa Mesa store
Fee: FREE

Visit Adventure 16 online for
location information and directions

The Ghost Mountain Experiment
Special screening of John McDonald’s full-length documentary chronicling the Marshal South family’s experiment in primitive living in the desert in the 1930’s.
November 29, 7:30 pm
Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center
Suggested donation $10

Mongolia: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
In September, Park and ABFI personnel accompanied ABDSP Superintendent Mark Jorgensen on a tour of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. Come share their images and experiences and learn how you can take part in a similar trip next summer!
December 27, 7:30 pm
Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center
Suggested donation $5

A State Parks Sampler
State Parks have something for everyone! Learn more about the parks in the Colorado Desert District and what they can offer you and your family as you seek to spend more time enjoying the out-of-doors.
January 3, 2009, 7:30 pm
Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center
Suggested donation $5

Beasts From the East: Conserving Wildlife in
Mongolia’s Gobi Desert
Join Dr. Richard Reading, a wildlife researcher at the Denver Zoo, as he describes the fascinating wildlife conservation and research projects taking place in the Gobi Desert.
January 31, 2009, 7:30 pm
Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center
Suggested donation $5

5th Annual Desert Skies Outdoor Lecture Series

Join popular astronomer and syndicated columnist Dennis Mammana as he enlightens and inspires us about the mysteries of the cosmos visible from Anza-Borrego Desert. Each of these exciting programs will be followed by telescope viewing of the desert sky – weather permitting. Please dress warmly and bring a blanket on which to sit. While it isn't necessary, feel free to bring binoculars and a flashlight covered with red cellophane (to preserve night vision).
Meet at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center amphitheater. Suggested donation $5

Along The Milky Way…
Saturday, October 25, 7:00 pm
Few celestial sights are as stunning as an autumn night in the desert. Stroll with us along the Milky Way – from the nearest of stars and nebulae to the most distant stellar clusters of our galaxy – and witness some of the most remarkable sights anywhere.

Celestial Time Machine
Friday, November 21, 7:00 pm
Nothing in the heavens appears as it is now; all is a vision of ages past. Join us for a truly inspiring voyage of discovery – to other times and other places – all with the power of our desert’s own celestial time machine.

Where Stars Are Born…And Die
Friday, December 5, 7:00 pm
From colossal glowing clouds where new stars and planetary systems are being born, to the shattered remains of once mighty suns – all sparkle overhead on winter nights. Join us for a look deep into the winter sky, and learn where stars are born... and die.

2009: A Celestial Sneak Preview
Saturday, January 17, 2009, 7:00 pm
Four centuries ago Galileo first aimed his telescope skyward. Now, as we begin this International Year of Astronomy, don’t miss this sneak preview of what promises to be an exciting year of cosmic wonder!

Goddess of the Night
Friday, February 6, 2009, 7:00 pm
She's been known throughout the ages as Diana, Aphrodite, and Isis, and she’s inspired us in poetry, art, song and science. Tonight we'll explore the many ways we are touched by the magical light of this great celestial goddess: the moon.

Cosmic Illusions
Saturday, March 7, 2009, 7:00 pm
The heavens are not always what they appear; in fact, much of what we see in the sky is merely an illusion. Explore some of these intriguing – and maddening – cosmic illusions, and discover why we frequently see things that just aren't there!

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